Alabama Child Support Calculator

Use the free calculator below to estimate child support under Alabama Rule 32 — the same guidelines Alabama courts use. Enter each parent’s monthly gross income, any prior support or alimony obligations, and child care or health insurance costs. The calculator applies the official Schedule of Basic Child-Support Obligations and supports both standard custody and shared 50/50 physical custody (Form CS-42-S, effective June 2023).

Alabama child support is determined under Rule 32 of the Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration, which uses an “income shares” model. Both parents’ monthly gross incomes are combined, and a Basic Child-Support Obligation is looked up from the official schedule. Each parent’s share of that obligation is then proportional to their share of the combined income.

Beyond the basic obligation, the court also accounts for work-related child care costs and the children’s pro-rata share of health insurance premiums paid by either parent. These are added to the basic obligation before calculating each parent’s proportionate share.

What Is “Shared 50/50 Custody” Under Alabama Law?

In 2023, Alabama updated Form CS-42-S to add a credit when each parent retains physical custody of the child(ren) approximately 50% of the time. In that scenario, the basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5 to reflect that both parents are maintaining households for the children. Each parent then receives a 50% credit against that adjusted figure. The parent with the higher remaining net obligation pays the other.

What Counts as “Gross Income” in Alabama?

Alabama’s guidelines define gross income broadly. It includes wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, rental income, dividends, interest, pension income, Social Security benefits, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, disability benefits, and most other regular income sources. It does not include child support received for other children, or means-tested public assistance such as SNAP, TANF, or SSI.

When Is the Chart Not Applicable?

If the parents’ combined monthly adjusted gross income exceeds $30,000, the Schedule of Basic Child-Support Obligations does not apply. In those cases, the court has discretion to set an appropriate amount based on the children’s needs and the parents’ financial circumstances.

Need Help With Child Support in Alabama?

Child support matters can be complicated — especially when incomes are variable, custody arrangements are unusual, or one parent is self-employed. The family law attorneys at The Harris Firm LLC have helped clients throughout Alabama with child support petitions, modifications, and enforcement for nearly two decades. Our offices in Birmingham, Chelsea, Huntsville, and Montgomery are ready to help.

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